The organisations listed on this page share a committment to touch the earth lightly and to conserve the natural environment.
By typing in the first three or four characters of their postcodes, householders, schools, garden centres and councils can obtain tailor-made lists of local plants, many of which are both hospitable to wildlife and suitable for gardens within their postal districts.
This innovative database is designed to foster greater understanding and awareness of the local environment, helping people to appreciate local plants and their importance for wildlife. Using the Postcode Plants Database to identify suitable plants, gardeners and householders can contribute directly to native species conservation in Britain.
[Flora for Fauna is an educational project and has no connection with the Nursery & Garden Industry Australia Flora for Fauna program. The NGIA program, although presented as educational, is a marketing device dominated by heavily promoted artificial hybrids, and species that are not indigenous to the bio-regions for which NGIA recommends them.]
Franciscans: http://www.franciscans.org.au/
In following Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology, Franciscans are involved with issues of justice, for disadvantaged people and for planet earth. They promote multi-faith and multicultural understanding, and encourage the general community to build relationships with Australia?s indigenous people and communities. St Francis EarthCare Grants are awarded annually, for environmental restoration in conjunction with community development.
Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens: http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/friends
The Friends of the Gardens support the research and conservation activities of the Botanic Gardens Trust, and help protect and develop the Royal Botanic Gardens. Although exotic plants are included, the emphasis continues to shift towards Australian native species.
Garden of Words http://www.gardenofwords.net/
Garden of Words showcases the written works of Helen Cushing, that blend the practical, the philosophical and the literary. The site features inspiring and thoughtful articles on the ecology, beauty and culture of gardens; and includes extracts of Helen's most important work, Beyond Organics, the fruit of over 25 years involvement in gardens and nature.
Greening Australia http://www.greeningaustralia.org.au
Greening Australia’s mission is to engage the community in vegetation management to protect and restore the health, diversity and productivity of our unique Australian landscapes. The organisation has over 25 years experience in tackling critical issues like salinity, declining water quality, soil degradation, climate change and biodiversity loss through an innovative blend of practical experience, science and community engagement.
Greenlink Box Hill Inc: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~greenlnk/
Greenlink is a voluntary organisation based in Box Hill, Victoria, with membership open to people of all ages. Members are involved in propagation of local flora, and the restoration and management of natural habitats. A free monthly newsletter, downloadable from the web site, covers items of interest across Australia.
Greenpeace Australia: http://www.greenpeace.org.au/
Greenpeace Australia was founded in 1977. It is an independent organisation, campaigning to ensure a just, peaceful, sustainable environment for future generations. Its mission and core values are based on independence, non-violence and bearing witness through direct action.
Invasive Species Council: http://www.invasives.org.au
Invasive species are a growing problem all over the world; As an island continent with a unique flora and fauna, Australia is especially vulnerable. Over 2,700 weed species and 200 marine invaders – introduced since European settlement – have caused extensive damage to agriculture and the natural environment. Although the impacts are immense and ongoing, invasive species are still entering and spreading across Australia.
The Invasive Species Council is an independent, non-government organisation that campaigns to stop further invasions and contain invading species already present. ISC is probably the first group in the world created solely to lobby against invasive species, stricter laws on invasives, tighter quarantine controls and Rapid Response Teams to eliminate new invaders
"I'm always amazed by the hold that exotic species have obtained over this land . . . Exotics pests are stealing into our national parks and wilderness zones." - Tim Low, author of 'Feral Future', and one of the founders of the Invasive Species Council.
Landcare Australia: http://www.landcareaustralia.com.au
Landcare Australia helps government, corporations and communities become partners in awareness campaigns and environmental repair projects. The Landcare ethic is to protect our environment and way of life now and for future generations, through appropriate management of our land, air, water and biological diversity.
Lore of the Land: http://www.loreoftheland.com.au is designed to encourage Australians to live in harmony with each other and with the land we each call home. Through deepening our knowledge of who we are and where we are, together we can create a new story. Read the latest Reconciliation News from around Australia, share your reflections and tell the story of how you came to this land.
Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales: http://www.nccnsw.org.au
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW is the State's peak environmental organisation, facilitating over 130 member groups, and many individual supporters from across the state.
NCC member groups have played a pivotal role since 1955 in the establishment of the 280 national parks that now exist across NSW.
Staff members work closely with local communities and businesses, co-ordinate action groups across the state and advise key decision-makers at local, state and national level, to protect and promote the NSW environment.
Planet Ark: http://www.planetark.com/
Planet Ark is an Australian not-for-profit organisation that aims to show individual people and the business community the many ways they can reduce their impact on the environment. It runs a number of environmental campaigns and initiatives including National Tree Day and National Recycling Week. Most of its work is carried out at the local community level via partnerships with councils, community groups and retail outlets.
Wilderness Society: http://www.wilderness.org.au/
The Wilderness Society is Australia's largest national community-based conservation organisation, with its National Office in Hobart, Tasmania. It works solely for the protection of Australia's wilderness and other high conservation value areas and its unique ecosystems, plants and animals.
The National Campaign Centre in Canberra is supplementd by local campaign centres almost all major cities in Australia. It also runs shops in a number of towns and cities, all of which welcome volunteer helpers.
WWF Australia: http://www.wwf.org.au/
WWF Australia (formerly World Wildlife Fund and World Wide Fund For Nature), is part of the WWF International Network - the world's largest independent conservation organisation, working in over 100 countries and supported by more than 5 million people.
WWWF Australia is a not-for-profit, supporter-based organisation committed to conserving the unique wildlife of Australia and the Asia-Pacific. Its mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and by promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
